PHYSICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS OF SURGICAL SUTURE MATERIAL - A COMPARISON OF 4 DIFFERENT MULTIFILAMENT ABSORBABLE SUTURES

Objective: Four different braided absorbable surgical materials (Dexon (R), Dexon II Bicolor(R), Vicryl(R) and Polysorb(R)) 2/0 USP, which ba sically share the same indications, were studied in vitro and in vivo with regard to their physical properties as well as tissue compatibili ty and surgical handling. Analyzing the results the authors tried to d etermine the most useful suture in surgical practice. Method: Physical tests to determine tensile strength, knot-breaking strength and knot security were carried out. Additionally an in vivo model (Wistar rat) was used to compare histocompatibility and loss of function due to hyd rolytic resorption. Furthermore, a handling test was carried gut by tr ained surgeons. Results: Polysorb had the highest linear tensile stren gth but also the fastest loss of function following tissue implantatio n: whereas Vicryl showed the slowest loss of function. Similar results were obtained with regard to the knot-breaking strength. After pulsat ile stressing Dexon II Bicolor and Dexon showed the highest irreversib le elongation followed by Vicryl and Polysorb. Polysorb had the best k notting characteristics, scoring highest also in the handling study. C onclusions: The authors conclude that with Polysorb all features and p roperties of braided suture material have reached a high level of qual ity. This suture combines the positive characteristics of monofilament with those of multifilament materials, thus coming closest to being t he ''optimal suture'.